Bond producers rooting for `Oscar worthy` Judi Dench

London: Producers of the James Bond franchise believe Dame Judi Dench’s performance as M in ‘Skyfall,’ is worthy of an Oscar and are campaigning for her to land a nomination.

‘Skyfall’ is Dench’s seventh outing as the formidable MI6 chief but it places her at the heart of the action for the first time.

The 77-year-old actress is much-admired by Academy voters - she has been nominated for six films, winning the best supporting actress award in 1999 for her eight-minute cameo in ‘Shakespeare In Love.’

Barbara Broccoli, who took over production of the Bond films from her late father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, expressed frustration that the franchise had been overlooked for so long but said she hoped Dench would break the duck.

“Over the years they have made groundbreaking contributions to cinema,” the Telegraph quoted her as telling Radio Times.

“I am surprised there haven`t been acting nominations, if not for Bond then for the support,” she added.

Broccoli said that she “ wouldn`t be surprised if Judi was nominated for this one.”

A nomination for Daniel Craig as Bond should not be out of the question either, according to Broccoli, who described him as “that extraordinary combination of movie star and great actor.”

The franchise has picked up only two Oscars from a total of nine nominations - best sound effects for ‘Goldfinger’ (1964) and best visual effects for ‘Thunderball’ (1965).

The ‘Spy Who Loved Me’ (1977) was nominated in three categories - best art direction, best original score and best original song for Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better’ - but won nothing.

The other nominations were best sound effects for ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ (1971), best original song for ‘Live And Let Die’ (1973), best visual effects for ‘Moonraker’ (1979) and best original song for the Sheena Easton theme to ‘For Your Eyes Only’ (1981).